Psalm 145 is Christ City Church’s psalm. (Or perhaps should be.) We have probably began more gathered times on Sunday with this psalm, than with any other. And there’s good reason: it tells nicely of the greatness and goodness of the Lord and (perhaps more to the point I want to make here) it tells of what it looks like for God’s people to PROCLAIM HIM.
Twenty one times in twenty one verses the language of speaking is brought to mind. “Extol, bless, bless, praise, praise, commend, declare, speak, declare, pour fourth, sing, give thanks, bless, speak, tell, make known, call, call, cry, speak, bless.” All verbs that imply—explicitly or implicitly—that there is speaking taking place. Sometimes the speech is directed towards God Himself, but most often is outward, public, for the watching world to hear.
And this is why this is Christ City’s psalm. Some of you will already be familiar with our family mantra, or mission statement: “to PROCLAIM Jesus in the everyday until He cannot be ignored.” That is what Psalm 145 whats us to do: to speak, to tell, to PROCLAIM. And that is why Psalm 145 should have be both a challenge and a comfort for us.
Psalm 145 is a challenge because, just like the psalmist, we often don’t live up to our own ideals and expectations, because we often fall short, but still need to be encouraged towards the life of faith that we have decided upon for ourselves. A life of faith that is lived in public, “aloud” for others to hear and see and be caught up in.
The psalm is also a comfort. Because, first, this psalm describes a God who hears us when we cry out to Him, when we speak to him directly. And secondly, this psalm reminds us that even when our tongues are tied, and our feeble attempts to speak of the hope we have in Jesus fall flat… That His works (not ours) do so anyway, that all the earth speaks of His goodness, His glory, grace and mercy. That His Kingdom is one that endures throughout all generations and cannot be silenced.
Lastly, this psalm encourages us to keep our ear to the ground… and listen. Do you hear it? Your brothers and sisters in Christ are speaking of God and His Kingdom more than you probably realize. So are your neighbors. So are the circumstances of your life, and of those around you.
We need but listen.
May we have ears to ear and eyes to see.
And mouths to speak!
—Chaz Holsomback